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In this Issue
It has been a privilege to serve as the Met Council member for District 8 for the past four months. I’ve enjoyed learning more about the work we do at the Council and meeting with constituents and local government leaders. I look forward to partnering with the communities in my district to create a more equitable metropolitan region – one with sustainable development, affordable housing, and robust public transit.
Although the region is economically thriving, inequities keep us from reaching our full potential. I plan to focus on housing equity and inclusion to make sure that jobs are closer to where people live. I am looking to explore ways to expand business opportunities for minorities and underserved communities. If you own a business and are interested in signing up for the Metropolitan Council’s Underutilized Business (MCUB) program, contact the Metropolitan Council Office of Equal Opportunity at (651) 602-1163.
I will be using this quarterly newsletter to share information about the work that the Council is doing, both region-wide and in District 8. I’ll also share relevant deadlines for Council programs and grants, in addition to events that may be of interest to the district.
Construction is scheduled to begin in August on improvements to an aging regional sewer tunnel under Minnehaha Creek near East Minnehaha Parkway. Despite efforts to minimize disruption, residents and visitors should expect construction inconveniences including noise, traffic, detours, and temporary above-ground wastewater conveyance pumps and pipes in the area. In order to stay up to date about project updates, including bicycle trail closures, please sign up for project updates on our website. Construction is expected to wrap up in late fall 2021.
 The METRO C Line launched on June 8. The C Line is METRO Bus Rapid Transit service that delivers a faster trip and an improved transit experience from downtown Minneapolis to Brooklyn Center. The C Line offers up to 25% faster service than Route 19. And more than half of the buses are all-electric, making the C Line the cleanest route in town! Check out more info about our newest bus rapid transit route.
Metro Transit has wrapped two buses, dubbed Nature Connectors, with a beautiful painting designed by Minneapolis muralist Greta McLain and created in her studio, GoodSpace Murals. The painting prominently features monarch butterflies. The buses are now traveling on routes that lead to some of the region’s most popular regional parks – Minnehaha and Theodore Wirth in Minneapolis and Como and Lake Phalen in Saint Paul – as part of an effort to highlight the connection between transit and parks. Learn more about where you might find the Nature Connector buses.
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The 2019 Legislative Session wrapped up at the end of May with compromise budget bills that included funding for transit, regional parks, and water supply. Learn more about what was included in the final bills.
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The Metro HRA, Minneapolis Public Housing Authority, and St. Paul Public Housing Agency all opened their waiting lists for applications last month. More than 17,000 households applied for the Metro HRA waiting list, and of those 2,000 will be selected in a random lottery to be placed on the waiting list. The staggering volume of applicants shows the need for affordable housing in the region. |
As the largest public works project in Minnesota’s history, the METRO Green Line Extension (Southwest LRT) project is expected to generate 7,500 jobs and $350 million in payroll. As a result, the Metropolitan Council sees the project as an opportunity for people of color and women to start a new career in the construction trades and for existing companies to expand their business. The Minnesota Department of Human Rights has set ambitious workforce participation goals of 32% people of color and 20% women for the Southwest LRT project. In addition, the Council set a goal of 16% of subcontractors working on the line be from disadvantaged business enterprises (DBEs). Learn more about how the Council plans to meet these goals.
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Kudos to metro area communities that have completed their local comprehensive plan updates. State statute requires metro communities to update their comprehensive plans for growth and development every 10 years for Met Council review. The process helps to ensure that local plans are coordinated with regional plans so services and infrastructure are available to support growth.
As of July 1, the Met Council has authorized the following District 8 community to put their 2040 plan into effect, pending final adoption by the community:
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